Motor control system



Feb. 11, 1941. I D JOURNEAUX 2,231,271

MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM Original Filed Feb. 3, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Yvvvvvvv 1941- D. JOURNEAUX MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 3, 1933 with both conductors of the line.

Patented Feb. .11, 1941 .UNITED STATES 2,231,271 MOTOR con'raor. srs'rnm Didier Journeaux, Wauwatosa, Wis.,

Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company,

assignor to Mil- waukee, Wls., a corporation of Delaware Original application February 3, 1933, Serial No.

655,015. Divided and this application February 1, 1939, Serial No. 253,988

21 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric control systems and more particularly to the control of variable speed alternating current motors in which the armature currents are conducted by means of electron discharge devices.

It is well known that an alternating current motor of the so-called synchronous type may be operated at gradually variable speeds by effecting the commutation of the armature currents thereof by means of electron discharge devices provided with control electrodes. In systems of such character known heretofore, the motor armature was preferably connected in polygon and provided with a number of connection points, there being one electron discharge device for each connection point if the armature was to be short circuited or four such devices if the armature was to be conductively energized from the supply line. The cathodes of. the several electron discharge devices employed in such a system are generally not all at the same potential and, as each control electrode must be energized at a potential considered relative to the potential of the associated cathode, the energization of such control electrodes by means of direct current sources such as batteries was necessarily complicated. The energization of the control electrodes also required the use of a plurality of single pole distributor switches or of at least one double pole distributor switch.

By energizing the control electrodes with alternating current, the use of additional sources is avoided as the control currents may be obtained from the supply line. The energization of the control electrodes may then be effected over a single distributor switch of the single pole type thereby controlling the operation of the electron discharge devices connecting the motor armature The motor current obtained from the line may be converted into pulsating direct current by suitable connection of the motor with the supply transformer which permits the number of discharge devices to be reduced. The energization of the control electrodes of such devices is then preferably effected at a frequency which is a multiple of the supply line frequency. Such control permits regulation of the energization of the motor at any desired voltage within the limits permitted by the supply transformer therefor and the motor may be connected through-such supply transformer without the interposition of switching devices, the motor then being started, reversed, and regulated by the control of the discharge devices.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide a control system for variable speed alternating current motors in which the motor armature currents are controlled by means of electron discharge devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control system for variable speed alternating current motors whereby such motors may be brought to operating speed without using switching devices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control system for variable speed alternating current motors whereby the direction of rotation of the motors may be reversed without using switching devices.

Another object of the present'invention is to provide a control system for variable speed alternating current motors employing electron discharge devices provided with control electrodes energized with alternating current voltages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a control system for variable speed alternating current motors employing electron discharge devices provided with control electrodes energized an integral number of times during each cycle of the supply line voltage.

Another object of the present invention is 'to provide a control system for variable speed alternating current motors employing electron discharge devices provided with control electrodes energized with pulsating direct current.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a .control system for variable speed alternating current motors employing electron discharge devices provided with control electrodes energized through a single distributor switch of the single pole type.

Objects and advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates one embodiment of the present invention applied to the control of a single phase alternating current motor of the series type whereby the motor receives pulsating direct current from an alternating current supply line through electron discharge devices having control electrodes energized with alternating current at a frequency equal to twice the supply line frequency through a distributor of the single pole type; and

Fig. ,2 diagrammatically illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention differing I whereby the conductivity of the respective valves from the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, in that several of the discharge devices are combined into a single device having control electrodes energized with pulsating current.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference, reference numeral 8 designates an alternating current supply line herein illustrated as a single phase line. The motor illustrated in the present embodiment will, therefore, be of the single phase type, but it will be understood that the system herein illustrated may be made operable to control a polyphase alternating current motor energized from a polyphase supply line by suitable duplication of the elements shown and suitable modification of some of such elements as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Line 6 energizes the primary winding 1 of a supply transformer having a secondary winding divided into two portions 9 and H). Transformer 7, 9 and I0 supplies current to a motor 8 having an armature connected in polygon and presenting a plurality of connection points such as Ha, ||b, etc. It will be assumed that the armature II is stationary, but it will be understood that such armature may be rotating, in which case the connections therewith would be effected over the usual slip rings. The motor is provided with a field winding |2 which is assumed to be rotating and connected over slip rings l3 and I4.

The connections between the winding portions 9 and i0 and the motor are effected over a plurality of electron discharge devices such as l6, l1, etc., equal in number to the connection points of winding Such connection points are severally further connected with the anodes of a furtherplurality of electron discharge devices such as 12 having their cathodes connected with slip ring l3; and the slip ring I4 is connected with the common point of connection of the winding portions 9, In. For the purpose of simplifying the drawings only such elements of the devices l8, l1, etc., and 72 as will be referred to in the description of the operation of the system have been designated by reference numerals and only the connections of such elements have been shown in their entirety. Each of the discharge devices l6, l1, etc., is provided with two anodes 2|, 1! and with two control electrodes 26, I6 controlling the operation of such anodes. The cathodes 3| of devices l8, l1, etc., may be of any suitable type and are preferably of the incandescent type supplied with current from winding 8-! through transformers, 31, etc. The discharge devices are preferably of the vapor type and therefore each contains a suitable vapor such as mercury vapor produced from a drop of mercury designated in device H5 at 4|. Each of the dischargedevices 12 is of a type similar to that of device I6 except that it is provided with only one anode 13 and one control electrode 15. The cathodes 14 of the several devices 12, connected with the slip ring 3, may be maintained at incandescence by means of a common transformer 18 energized from the winding portions 9-").

The circuits-controlling the application of potentials to the control electrodes 26, 16 and 15 IE, IT, etc., and 12 is controlled include reactors 58 and 51 and resistances 58 and 59 constituting a phase shifter circuit across which the primary winding of a phase shifter 6| is connected. The secondary winding 62 of the phase shifter 8| is mounted on the rotor thereof and the phase of the output voltage thereof depends on its adjusted position, which in the present embodiment may be effected manually by means of a lever 18. The winding 82 supplies current to an electron discharge device 19 provided with anodes and with a cathode which may be maintained at incandescence by means of a transformer 82 energized from the winding portions 9|0. Winding 62 and device 19 constitute a rectifying system supplying current to the primary winding 84 of a transformer having a secondary winding 85, the magnitude of such current being adjusted by a rheostat 83. The current flowing through winding 84 and rheostat 83 is then a direct current pulsating at twice the frequency of the voltage of the supply line 6. It is understood that a direct current saturation of the core of transformer 84, 86 by the direct current component of the current in winding 84 may be avoided by any of the means known in the art. Winding 86 is connected with the brush 68 of a distributor 64 and energizes through one of the segments thereof, such as segment 64a, the primary winding 81 of a control transformer having a secondary winding 88 energizing control electrode 15 and another secondary winding 89 energizing control electrodes 26 and 16. A plurality of transformers similar to transformer 81, 88, 88 are provided for the control of the several control electrodes of the devices l6, l1, etc., and 12, the primary winding of each of such transformers being connected with winding 86 and with one of the segments of the distributor 84. Such energization permits the several control transformer primary windings, such as 81, to become sequentially energized from the winding 62 through the transformer 84, 88. In the present embodiment the position of the segments of the distributor 64 is shown as being adjustable by a solenoid 92, energized from a shunt 93 in the motor circuit to move distributor 64 against the action of a spring 9|. In the present embodiment the motor will have a series characteristic as the flow of current occurs alternately from one terminal of the winding portions 9, I0 over one of the electron discharge devices I6, I1, through armature ll, through another electron discharge device 12, and through winding |2 to the center terminal of winding portions 9, IO.

In operation, considering the system at a mo- I ment during the period of positive energization of anode 2| with respect to cathode 3|, winding 82 is so adjusted by means of lever 10 that, at such moment, winding 86 impresses on winding 88, by way of winding 81, a voltage causing control electrode 15 to be positively energized with respect to cathode l4, and causing control electrodes 26 and 16 to be positively energized with respect to cathode 3| from winding 88. Anodes 2| and 13 are thus made operable to carry current, such current flowing from winding portion 9 over anode 2|, cathode 3|, connection point I a, armature winding I, connection point ||b, anode 13, cathode l4, slip ring l3, field winding 2, slip ring H to the common point of winding portions 8 and l 0. During the next half cycle of the voltage of line 6, anode 2| becomes negative with the common point of winding portions 9 and I6.

Such flow of current continues as long as brush 66 is in contact with commutator segment 64a, and may therefore extend over a period comprising a variable number of cycles of the voltage of the supply line 6, depending upon the speed of the motor. The flow of current in windings Iland I2 produces a torque which causes rotation of the motor field and also causes brush 66 to leave segment 64a and to come in contact with another segment of the distributor. Such rotation of the brush 66 causes winding 66 to cease energizing control electrodes 26, 16 and 15, and devices I6 and II thereupon become inoperative. Winding, 66 then energizes the control electrodes of another group of electron discharge devices, thereby permitting the fiow of current through such devices and through armature winding II and field winding l2 in a manner similar to that described above, butover another pair of connection points of such armature winding. Such operation again impresses a torque on the motor field and causes continued rotation of the field in the same direction as at the first moment considered.

The above described process is repeated sequentially for each pair of connection points of winding II during each revolution of the motor to impart thereto a substantially uniform torque in a. continuous direction. Depending on the speed of the motor, each pair of connection points is used during a variable number of successive cycles of the supply line voltage during each revolution of the field. The operation of the motor may be regulated by any means known in the art for the control of electron discharge devices. In the present embodiment the current taken by the motor may be manually adjusted to any desired value by movement of lever I0, such movement causing the control electrodes to be energized at a different moment of the voltage cycle of the supply line 6. The position of the distributor 64, which determines the position of the magnetic axis of winding II relative to that of field win-ding I2, is adjusted in dependence upon the motor current by solenoid 92, thereby imparting to the motor a characteristic which differs from the ordinary series characteristic of a motor not provided with such adjustment.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 2, the electron discharge devices such as I2 in Fig. 1 are shown replaced by a unit device 94 provided with a cathode 96 energized from transformer I8. In the present embodiment, device I9 supplies current to a circuit including rheostat 63, another rheostat 91 and a reactor 96. The point of connection of rheostats 83 and 91 is connected with cathode 96 of device 94. The negative terminal of rheostat 83 is connected through resistances as at 99 with the segments of distributor '64 and with the control electrodes of ,device 94 over the primary windings, such as winding ml, of control transformers having secondary windings, as at I02. The secondary windings of the control transformers are connected with the negative terminal of rheostat 63 and energize the control electrodes of the devices as at I6, winding I02 being shown as energizing control electrodes 26 and 56 over resistances 5| and BI. Due to the connection of the circuits of device 19, the control electrodes of device 96 are generally maintained at a negative potential with respect to cathode 96 by the amount of the voltage drop in rheostat 92. Due to the insertion of reactor 96 into the circuit 01' rheostat 63, the current flowing therethrough is a substantially uniform direct current, and the voltage drop across rheostat 63 is a substantially uniform direct current voltage. The voltage impressed between cathode 96 and brush 66 of distributor 66 is an alternating voltage having for amplitude the value of the pulsation of the output voltage of device 19.

In operation, again considering the period during which. anode 2| is positively energized with respect to cathode 3i and anode l3 positively energized with respect to cathode 96, control electrodes 26, I6 and I6 are negatively energized with respect to the associated cathodes 3| and 96 by the connection of such control electrodes with rheostat 62. Winding 62 01' phase shifter 6I is so adjusted that, at a moment during the period of positive energization, control electrode 15 becomes positively energized with respect to cathode 96 over brush 66 and segment 64a of distributor 64. Control electrode I5 then acts as an anode and carries current which flows over winding NH. The flow of current in such winding causes a voltage impulse to be induced therein and in winding I62, such voltage impulse momentarily bringing control electrodes 26 and 16 to a positive potential with respect to cathode 3|. Anodes 2| and 13 are then operable to carry current and current flows in the manner described with respect to the embodiment of Fig. 1. During the next half cycle of the voltage of line 6, anode II is positively energized with respect to cathode 3I and during such period control electrodes 15, 26 and 1.6 are again positively energized with respect to the associated cathodes. Current then flows through anodes II and I3 as already described with respect to the embodiment of Fig. 1.

In the present embodiment, the segments of distributor 66 are assumed to be manually adjustable by means of a lever I03 whereby the energization of the control electrodes of the device may be advanced or retarded with respect to the spatial position of field I2. The particular connection point of winding II through which current flows at any particular time may thus be selected with respect to the position of field winding I2, thereby adjusting the magnitude of the torque caused by the interaction of currents in the armature and in the field windings. If lever I09 is moved in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the motor, the torque will gradually decrease in value and reach zero when the distributor segments have been rotated by an angle of 90 electrical degrees. Further shifting of the distributor segments will cause the motor currents to produce a torque opposite to the torque previously produced, thereby causing reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor without using switching devices and without necessitating the expenditure of electrical energy in resistances. It will be understood that such manual reversal of the direction of rotation may also be provided when the segments of the distributor are continuously adjusted by automatic means such as solenoid 92 illustrated in Fig. 1.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 655,015, filed February 3, 1933, patented Oct. 10, 1939, No. 2,175,547; and although but two embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein tion or from the scope of the appended claims.

7 It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a control system for electric motors, an alternating current supply line, an electric motor, electric valves of the electron discharge type connected with said line and with said motor to control operation thereof, said valves having anodes with associated control electrodes and each having a cathode, the control electrodes controlling flow of current through said valves and being connected for energization from said line, a distributor operated by the shaft of said motor and controlling the energization of the control electrodes and thereby controlling operation of said motor, and means operable responsive to and in dependence upon iiow of current through said motor for automatically varying the adjustment of said distributor.

2. In a control system for electric motors, an alternating current supply line, an electric motor, electric valves of the electron discharge type connected with said line and with said motor to control operation thereof, said valves having anodes with associated control electrodes and a cathode, the control electrodes controlling flow of current through said valves and being connected for energization from said line, a distributor operated by the shaft of said motor and controlling the energization of the control electrodes and thereby'controlling operation of said motor, and a solenoid connected with one winding of .said motor to vary the operation of said distributor in response to the flow of current through said motor.

3. In a control system for electric motors, an alternating current supply line, an electric motor, electric valves of the electron discharge vapor filled type connecting said line with said motor to control the flow of current therethrough, said valves having electrodes to control the flow of current therethrough, transformers connected with the cathode and with the control electrode of each "i said valves, manually adjustable means connecting said transformers with said line to vary the potential supplied therefrom relative to the potential of said line, and manually adjustable means operated by said motor and controlling the connection of the first said means with the control electrodes.

4. In a control system for electric motors, a

supply line, an electric motor, means comprising a plurality of electric valves of the electron discharge type each having an anode and a cathode interconnecting said line with said motor operable to control the supply of operating current to the latter, each of said valves being provided with a control electrode, and a manually adjustable distributor switch operated by said motor for connecting said line with each of said control electrodes to thereby impress thereon potential supplied from said line and difiering from the potential of the associated cathode to control the said operation of said valves to start said motor, to control the speed of operation thereof, and to reverse the direction of operation thereof.

5. The combination with an alternating current supply circuit, a load circuit, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and an anode interconnecting said circuits and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, of means for causing said anode to conduct two impulses of energy during a cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit comprising a control electrode associated with said anode, and means for producing and impressing on said control electrode a potential having a frequency equal to twice the frequency of the voltage of the said supply circuit.

6. The combination with an altematingcurrent supply circuit, a load circuit, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and an anode interconnecting said circuits and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow ofenergy therebetween, of means for causing said anode to conduct a predetermined plurality of impulses of current during a cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit comprising a control electrode associated with said anode, and means for producing and impressing on said control electrode a predetermined plurality of impulses of potential during each cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit.

7. The combination with an alternating current supply. circuit, a load circuit, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and an anode interconnecting said circuits and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, of means for causing said anode to conduct two impulses of energy during a cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit comprising a control electrode associated with said anode, means for producing and impressing on said control electrode a potential having a frequency equal to twice the frequency of thepotential of said supply circuit, and means for varying the moments of impression of the said potential on said control electrode relative to the voltage cycle of said supply circuit. a

8. The combination with an alternating current supply circuit, a load circuit, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and an anode interconnecting said circuits and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, of means for causing said anode to conduct two impulses of energy during a cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit comprising a control electrode associated with said anode, and means comprising an auxiliary electric valve for producing and impressing on said control electrode potential having a frequency equal to twice the voltage frequency of said supply circuit.

9. The combination with an alternating current supply circuit, a load circuit, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and an anode interconnecting said circuits and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, of means for causing said anode to conduct two impulses of energy during a cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit comprising a control electrode associated with said anode, and means comprising an auxiliary electric valve for producing and impressing on said control electrode impulses of potential at two predetermined moments during each cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit.

10. The combination with an alternating current supply circuit, a load circuit, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and an anode interconnecting said circuits and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, of means for causing said anode to conduct a plurality of impulses of energy during a cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit comprising a control electrode associated with said anode, and means for producing and impressing on said control electrode a predetermined plurality of impulses of potential at predetervalve means comprising a cathode and an anode I interconnecting said circuits and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, of means for controlling said flow of energy'comprising a control electrode associated with said anode, means for producing and impressing on said control electrode a plurality of impulses of potential at predetermined moments during each cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit, and means operable in dependence upon an operating condition of said load circuit for varying the said moments of the impression of said potential on said'control electrode.

12. In an electric power translating system, the combination with a source of alternating current, an electric motor, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and a plurality of anodes interconnecting said source with said motor and con- I stituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, a plurality of control electrode severally associated with said, anodes, of means for causing a selected one of said anodes to conduct two impulses of energy during a cycle of the voltage of said source of current comprising'means having connection with said source of current and operable to transform the potential thereof to a potential having a frequency equal to twice the frequency of said source,and means for impressing the said potential of twice the frequency of said source sequentially on said control electrodes.

13. In an electric translating system, the combination with a source of alternating current, an electric motor, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and a plurality of anodes interconnecting said source with said motor and constituting spaced electrodes for the ,flow of energy therebetween, a plurality of control electrodes severally associated with said anodes, of means for causing a. selected one of said anodes to conduct two impulses of energy during a cycle of 45 the voltage of said source of current comprising an auxiliary electric valve having connection with said source and operableto produce therefrom potential having a frequency equal to twice the frequency of said source, and means comprising 50 means operable responsive to and in dependence on the speed of rotation of said motor for continually impressing the said potential of twice the frequency of said source sequentially on said control electrodes at predetermined moments rela- 55 tive to the voltage cycle of said source.

14. In an electric translating system, the combination with a source of alternating current, an electric motor, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and a plurality of anodes inter- 0 connecting said source and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, a plurality of control electrodes severally associated with said anodes, of means for causing a selected one of said anodes to conduct two impulses of 65 energy during a cycle of the voltage of said source of current comprising an auxiliary electric valve having connection with said source and operable to produce therefrom potential having a frequency equal to twice the frequency of said source,

' means comprising means operable responsive to and in dependence on the speed of rotation of said motor for continually impressing the said potential of twice the frequency of said source sequentially on said control electrodes at predeter- 75 mined moments relative to the voltage cycle of said source, and means for varying the said predetermined moments of impression of said potential of twice the frequency of said source on said control electrodes.

15. The combination with an alternating .current supply circuit, a load circuit, and electric valve means comprising a. cathode and an anode interconnecting said circuits and, constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of'en'ergy therebetween, of means for controlling the said flow of energy comprising a control electrode associated with said'anode, means comprising an auxiliary electric valve having connection with said supply circuit and operable to produce therefrom potential of unidirection, means for impressing said potential of unidirection on said control electrode to prevent initiation of said flow of energy, means for converting said potential of unidirection to alternatingpotential having a frequency equal to twice the frequency of the voltage of said supply circuit, and means for continually impressing the said alternating potential on said control electrode during such moments relative to the voltage cycle of said supply circuit as to render the said valve means operable for the said flow of energy.

16. The combination with an alternating current supply circuit, a load circuit, and electric valve means comprising a cathode and an anode interconnecting said circuits and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, of means for controlling said flow of energy comprising a control electrode associated with said anode, means comprising an auxiliary electric valve having connection with said supply circuit operable to produce therefrom impulses of potential of unidirectlon having a frequency equal to twice the frequency of the voltage of said supply circuit, means for deriving from said impulses and for impressing on said control electrode a potential of substantially constant magnitude to prevent initiation of said flow of energy, and means for continually impressing said impulses of potential on said control electrode at such moments relative to the voltage cycle of said supply circuit as to render said valve means operable for the said flow of energy.

interconnecting said circuits and constituting spaced electrodes for the flow of energy therebetween, of means for controlling said flow of energy comprising a control electrode associated with said anode, means comprising an auxiliary electric valve having connection with said sup-- ply circuit and operable to produce therefrom potential of unidirection, means for impressing said potential of unidirection on said control electrode to prevent initiation of said flow of energy, means for converting said potential of unidirection to alternating potential having a frequency equal to, twice the frequency of the voltage of said supply circuit, means for continually impressing the said alternating potential on said control electrode at such moments relative to the voltage cycle of said supply-circuit as to render the said valve means operable for the said flow of energy, and means for varying the moments of continual impression of the said potential on the said control electrode relative to the voltage cycle of said supply circuit.

18. The combination with an alternating current supply circuit, a load circuit, and electric prising one group of arc paths for transmitting curent to said load circuit and a second group of arc paths for returning said current from said load circuit, of means for rendering simultaneously conductive one are path in each of said groups and subsequently rendering simultaneously conductive the said one arc path in one of said groups and a different arc path in the other of said groups-during each cycle of the voltage of said supply circuit.

19. The combination with an alternating current supply circuit, a load circuit, and electric valve means interconnecting said circuits cornprising one group of arc paths for transmitting current to said load circuit and a second group of arc paths for returning said current from said load circuit, of means for rendering simultaneously conductive one are path in the said one group of arc paths and another arc path in said second group of arc paths and subsequently rendering simultaneouly conductive said another are path in the said second group and a difierent arc path in said one group during each cycle or the voltage of said supply circuit.

20. In combination, an alternating current supply circuit, a load circuit, electric valve means of the gaseous type for interconnecting said circuits and including a plurality of arc paths each having a control member associated therewith and means for selectively energizing said control members to render predetermined arc paths of said are paths simultaneously conductive at a number of predetermined difl'erent intervals during each cycle of potential of said alternating current circuit.

21. In combination, an alternating current circuit, a load circuit, electric valve translating apparatus for interconnecting said circuits and including a plurality of arc paths each having a control member associated therewith, means for impressing potentials on said control members to render predetermined arc paths of said are paths simultaneously conductive at a number 01' predetermined diflerent intervals during each cycle or potential of said alternating current circuit, and means for controlling the phase of said potentials.

DIDIER JOURNEAUX. 

